Concern over car parking plan for St Peter’s Gardens

Concern has been expressed by the society over a planning application by Huddersfield Parish Church to create a small car park in St Peter’s Gardens.

Parking for 14 vehicles is proposed on the north side of the building for clergy, volunteers, disabled drivers and those attending funerals.

The former Vicar, Simon Moor, said last year: ‘We have lost our car park at the rear of The Parish Pump pub … so we need to develop this area for car parking for our staff and to enable the day-today running of the church.’

Our reservations are given more fully on the planning page, but the essence is that the gardens provide an important green ‘lung’ and setting within the conservation area.

The Council’s Blueprint for the town centre indicates that Kirklees will ‘support the enhancement of the gardens ….and make the most of the green space’.

​Using part of this space for parking, which would also require access on to a pedestrianised street, would appear contrary to this aim.

Here is a plan of the scheme by Architects One17.